Loose-leaf binder



Filed May 3, 1926 Inucmfor Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED "STATES PATENT ()FFICE EDWARD F. GRAF, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,--

T0 CYRUS B. NEWCOMB, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN LOOSE-LEAF BIND-ER.

Application filed May 3, 1926. Serial No. 106,193.

This invention relates to a novel construction of loose leaf binder wherein separate sheets may be bound readily together between covers and the sheets added to or subtracted from or "rearranged at will and in a very expeditious manner. It is a primary V tainment of the ends stated, as well 'as many.

thereof.

object and purpose of the present invention to make an especially simple and economicallyconstructedloose leaf binder, yet one which is particularly efiective for the purposes for which it is designed. The invention consists in novel details of construction and combinations thereof for the atothers not stated specifically at this time but which will appear as understanding of the invention is had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a leaf body and the binder applied thereto, showing the.

with the straps on which the leaves are mounted, the guide therefor being shown in section. l

Fig. 41s a V ew similar to that shown in Fig. v3, the parts being in operative position and the guide being fully shown.

Fig. '5 is a fragmentary enlarged perspec- V tive view of a part of the lower cover and the manner in -which the leaf holding stra s are connected therewith.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing. The lower cover 1 may be of any desired size to correspond with the sizeof the leaves 5 whi har' t be bound, and at it r a ge has a flap Q -attached thereto by a flexible con- 7 nection 3 so that said part 2'may be turned so as to lie against the innersideofthe cover 1. cover at its inner side and at two spaced apartpoints near its rear edge is formed with shallow recesses or depressions 4, one of which is shown in Fig. 5. V The part 2 has a slot 5 cut therethrough so as to lie directly over each of the recesses 4 when the said part 2 is folded back on theinner side of the cover 1. Two straps 6 pass through the slots 5 and at one end are detachably connected to a flatplate 7 of sheet metal, threading through slots therein so as to make a secure connection, indicated at 8. When the flap 2' is turned over on to the inner side. of the cover 1, the plates 7 and the end portions of the straps 6 together with the connection made at 8 lie in the recesses 4 between the flap 2 and the cover 1. iThe connection at 8' .hetween the strap 6 and plate 7 is such that when the strap becomes worn, it can be disconnected and 'replaced by a new one. Straps 6 may be of a'nysuitable flexible material, and an inelastic fabricis ordinarily used.

I The upper cover 9 is similar in construction to the lower cover and likewise has a flap 10 at its rear edge extending the full width of the cover and connected thereto by the flexible connection 11. This flap is adapted to be turned inwardly against the inner side of the'cove'r. The c0ver'9 also is formed with two spaced apart shallow recesses 12 near its rearedge and located so as to come directly above the recesses 4 in the lower cover when the covers are connected to a tegral extensions which are bent upwardly to make the sides 14 of the guide, the same being turned inwardly toward each other, spaced from and lying over the plate 13 be low, as indicated at 15. This makes a guide open at both ends. The plate 13 and the opposite upper side of each guide are formed with slots 16 lying directly over a similar slot in the adjacent portion of the flap 10 so that the straps 6 may freely pass therethrough. V

A retaining member is slidably mounted hrough each of the guides described. It comprises a plate 17 of fiat metal in which a longitudinal slot 18 is cut, said slot atone end portion being offset, as indicated at 18 and having one side edge thereof formed into a curved cam edge 19. At each end of each plate 17 an car 20 is turned upwardly so that the same may be readily engaged by the fingers or by the metal tip at the free end of each of the straps 6 to move said plates 17 back and forth in their respective guides.

With the straps 6 passed through the slots 16 and 18, the same may be securely clamped when the retaining plate 17 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that in Fig.

4. lVhen moved to the position shown in Fig 4, the proiecting cam portion at 19 presses againstits strap at one side clamping it against the edges of the slots 16 in plate 13 and the upper side of the guide for said retaining plate, while the release of the straps is accomplished by merely moving the retaining plates therefor back to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The sheets or leaves 21 which are to be detachably and releasably bound between the covers are provided adjacent their rear edges with elongated openings slightly larger than the cross section of the straps 6 so that said straps may be readily threaded through said openings, indicated at 22. As many leaves or sheets as may .be desired may be thus connected with the straps and then said straps passed through the flap 10 and the retaining members and guides therefor, asshown in 1. The straps are drawn through until the flaps. are'brought snugly against the upper and lower leaves of the body of leaves, as shown in Fig. 2, and then the plates 17 are moved to the positionshown in Fig. 4, securely holding the same against movement. The retaining plates and their guides are received in the recesses 12 in the upper cover.

\Vhen additional leaves are to beplaced with the body of leaves or when some are to be removed or the leaves in any manner rearranged, release of the straps is made by moving the plates 17 from the position shown in Fig. i to that shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the upper cover 9 may be removed and the sheets or leaves changed as desired.

This construction of loose leaf binder is 1 simple and economical to produce and is very easily assembled. The replacement of the straps 6 when needed should the same become worn where the cams 19 engage therewith is very simple and easy. The different metal parts are covered and disguised when the covers are closed, and when a book of leaves is to be examined, it is evident that the book opens readily and lies flat in open position.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising, a cover, flexible straps attached at one end to said cover near an edge thereof, a plurality of leaves located against the cover having openings near one edge through which the straps pass, a second cover having openings near one edge through which the straps pass, a plate located over each opening on the second cover and having an opening in conjunction with the opening in the cover, a guide formed on each of said plates having open ends and an outer side parallel to the plate, said outer side also having an opening in alignment with the opening in said plate and cover so that the straps may pass through said plates and the guides formed thereon, and alocking plate slidably mounted in each guide, said locking plates being slotted longitudinally, one end of each slot being offset and having a curved cam edge at one side, the slots in the locking plates being positioned to wholly register at one end withsaid openings in said plate and guide whereby when a locking plate is moved in one direction in its guide the strap associated therewith may pass freely therethrough but when moved to another position said cam edge engages against its associated strap and binds it securely against the plate and guide through which it passes.

2. A loose-leaf binder comprising two covers adapted to be located against the respective outer edges of a body of loose-leaves having openings near one edge, flexible straps attached at one end to one of said covers and adapted to extend through said openings in said leaves and retainers for said straps attached to the other cover, each retainer comprising a. member having a slot anda second member adapted to slide longitudinally of the slot in the first member,said second meni her having a slot, a portion of which regis-f erally ofi'set therefrom and an inclined portion joining the two.

4. A clamp comprising, a member having an upper and lower portion, each having a corresponding superimposed slot and a second member adapted to slide between said portions longitudinally of the slots therein, said second member having a slot, a portion of which registers with the slots in the first member and a portion of which is laterally ofiiset therefrom and an inclined portion join ing the two.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWVARD F. GRAF. 

